North Okanagan standoff suspect pleads guilty to uttering threats

VERNON - A man at the centre of a lengthy standoff with police in the North Okanagan has pleaded guilty to one of the charges against him.

Kelly Blake Torvik entered a guilty plea today, Feb. 26, in Vernon Provincial Court on one count of uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm against police.

The charge relates to a Feb. 4 incident in Coldstream, in which Torvik allegedly assaulted a woman at a home on Torrent Drive and then barricaded himself inside with a firearm. Numerous police officers descended on the home and blocked off nearby streets until Torvik was apprehended without incident after a 15-hour standoff.

Torvik is also accused of eight other charges, including assault with a weapon and multiple gun-related offences.

Today, Torvik’s lawyer Claire Mastop made a request for pre-sentence and psychiatric reports and the case was adjourned to March 28.

Torvik has elected trial by Provincial Court judge.

During the standoff, Torrent Drive, Kidston Road and Cottonwood Lane were closed to traffic and residents in the immediate area were told to stay in their homes while specifically trained officers negotiated with Torvik.

FILE PHOTO - Numerous police officers converged on a Coldstream home Feb. 5, 2018 after receiving a report of a distraught man with a firearm.

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